Sports bras for big boobs tested

Big boobed girls know that the struggle for good support is real. Despite being called "fun bags" ladies of ample chest will know that most of the time, it’s quite the opposite.

Let’s cast our minds back to that first summer our breasts came in. All of a sudden donning a triangle cozzie resulted in a neck ache and any spontaneous activity requiring even a slight jog was out of the question. Our boobs needed 24/7 support and not knowing what to do, many of us resorted to creative measures. Sports strapping, double-bra-ing or wearing a too-small swimsuit were just some of the crimes committed against our cleavages in a bid to stop the girls from bouncing.

But those days are gone, and while we’ve had our boobs for some time, finding the right way to hold 'em up (and in) can still be tricky.

So we’ve gone and tested a bunch of sports bras to see which ones might do the job. Here goes...

The rules

I wore the bras for a few workouts – combinations of walking, running, jogging and boxing to see how they fared.

Nike Pro Rival $70 - Supportive and sleek

During a workout this bra's sleek style and moulded cups helped give my boobs a nice, separated shape with no uni-boob in sight. The soft fabric meant there was no cutting in anywhere and it was also good at absorbing boob sweat (you know about that... don't act like you don't).

For something without underwire this bra did a pretty good job. It looks good and works well so it could be a fan favourite. The one downside is that the sizes don’t appear very generous. As far as I could tell, a small E is the biggest cup size on offer.

Berlei Electrify Underwire Bra $59.95 - Combo of cute and control

The texture, fabric and detailed structure behind this bra makes you think it is less the work of fashion designers and more a feat of construction engineering.

Berlei says that the Electrify Underwire Bra "reduces bounce by 50 per cent," and while I didn’t get the tape measure out I’d say it delivered.

It’s almost a minimizer with good lift and comfortable support all over, and as someone who has had a similar Berlei style before I think this one is made to last - which is important because it’s not super-cheap.

Lululemon ta ta tamer $69 - Yoga anyone?

This moulded bra is underwire-less and comes with straps you can adjust and move.

With no underwire and light fabric it feels like a yoga bra – which is the only sport I’d actually recommend it for if you have boobs. Well yoga, or Pilates, or something that didn’t require much bounce support. If you’re a keen runner this one is probably not for you.

Cotton On WORKOUT K.I.R BRA $29.95 - Good, but can it go the distance?

Firstly, for under $30 this bra totally looks the part and the shape it gave my boobs even made me do a double take.

For a 'budget bra' the bounce support on this one was good. I feel like the real test with the K.I.R will come with time – will it give in to stretch and slacking quicker than other more expensive brands?

Another thing, it’s very low cut, which I enjoyed, but the more modest among us might find this one a little too revealing.

With thick straps and solid chest coverage your boobs know you mean business when you put this bra on.

I can say with full confidence that there's no chance of a nip-slip here. The bra cut is really high, which is good for tucking your breasts away and giving all over support, and thankfully it comes in a range of colours so you can find one you don’t mind flashing.

This bra also goes up to a 22E – good news for really big busted lasses.

Target High Impact Sports Bra $29 – An economical option

This underwired bra looked expensive. It had all the trimmings of a top-of-the-line sports bra – thick adjustable straps, padded cups and hook and eye fastenings.

And while it looked expensive it didn’t feel 100 per cent like it was doing the job for me. While I wore it I felt the cups gaped a little, which meant my boobs didn’t feel super secure during a workout.

This sports bra is like fashion met function and had a glorious baby. The sexy shape means you can get bounce support without sacrificing your cleavage – and it’s almost a good all-day wear bra.

It is designed for "medium level" exercise but I was surprised how well it held up while running and jumping around. I did think that the thin racerback straps felt a little bit restrictive while doing upper body workouts, but this could be put down to a sizing issue for me.

Conclusions…

I’m a hard marker – the ultimate bra for me would have been the equivalent of something comfortably cementing my boobs to my chest while still giving me a Wonderbra lift. Some came close but the search for supportive perfection is still out there.

Jessica’s final tips

Underwire is key – I was pleasantly surprised by the support some of the bras sans-underwire offered, but I think if you’re in the DD range and in doubt, always go with wire.

Get fitted by a bra specialist – You might not realise how much your body has changed since the last time you had a fitting and bra sizes have changed too over the years. Don’t be afraid of change and remember size is just a number!

Get a few bras – Yeah sports bras can be expensive but once you find one you like and fits well grab a few to have on rotation. Washing them once a week, especially after they’ve been drenched in sweat, is not enough.

You’ve got to invest – At the end of the day when it comes to sports bras, you get what you pay for. I would be really surprised if something cheaper outlasted a more expensive product in terms of support and structural integrity.

You can find the bras and learn more about them at the following places: